images

The Horsehead nebula in Orion

by

NASA/ESA/NOAO/Novapix

Reference

a-nec04-34007

Date

2006-08-27

The Horsehead, also known as Barnard 33, is a cold, dark cloud of gas and dust, silhouetted against the bright nebula, IC 434. The bright area at the top left edge is a young star still embedded in its nursery of gas and dust. Radiation from this hot star is eroding its gaseous birthplace. A massive star located outside Hubble's view is, in a similar fashion, sculpting the top of the Horsehead itself. The Horsehead, located in the constellation Orion, is a cousin of the famous pillars of dust and gas known as the Eagle nebula. Both tower-like nebulae are cocoons of young stars.